Finance Team

The City Treasurer-Clerk is appointed by the Mayor and City Commissioners and is one of four appointees of the governing body; the other appointed officials are the City Attorney, City Auditor and City Manager. The City Treasurer-Clerk oversees a staff of over 50 full-time employees in five operating divisions. The Treasurer-Clerk oversees the treasury management operations of the City, including issuance of all City indebtedness (excluding conduit issuance), investment of the operating portfolio and management of all banking relationships. The Treasurer-Clerk is also responsible for management and administration of the City’s retirement system, which consists of a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan, the collection of all revenues of the City, the City’s risk management program and the clerical/record-keeping function.

James O. Cooke, IV

Jim joined the City in 2002 as Deputy Treasurer-Clerk. After serving in this role for 10 years, Jim was appointed City Treasurer-Clerk by the City Commission in 2012. The City Treasurer-Clerk is one of four (4) appointed officials along with the City Manager, City Attorney and City Auditor. The Treasurer-Clerk manages the City’s asset/liability, revenue collection, risk management and retirement divisions. In addition to all administrative functions for the City’s retirement plans, the City Treasurer-Clerk oversees investment of $1.5 billion in pension plan assets and approximately $500 million in assets for the City’s 401 and 457 plans. Given the City of Tallahassee’s broad array of services, including an electric utility, the Office of the Treasurer-Clerk directs cash management of approximately $650 million and collects approximately $700 million in revenue annually. During his 15 years with the City of Tallahassee, Jim has guided debt issuances totaling $1.35 billion. The City issues debt under three credits – Energy System, Consolidated Utility Systems and Capital – and has a combined $970 million outstanding. Before coming to the City, Jim worked as a manager for the accounting firms of Williams, Cox, Weidner and Cox (now Carr, Riggs, and Ingram) in Tallahassee and BennettThrasher and Co in Atlanta after starting his career as an auditor at Price Waterhouse in Atlanta.

As City Treasurer-Clerk, Jim sits on the Board of Directors of the Sunshine State Governmental Financing Commission. He also serves as a board member for the Florida Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System (FLCLASS) and is a member of the Florida State Seminole Boosters Investment Committee. In addition to these positions, Jim is both a member of the Government Finance Officers Association and the Florida Government Finance Officers Association.

Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting (1985) as well as a master’s degree in accounting (1986), both from Florida State University.

Kent Olson

Kent joined the City of Tallahassee as its Deputy Treasurer-Clerk in July 2012. As Deputy Treasurer-Clerk, he has day-to-day responsibility over the investment portfolios of the operating funds ($650 million) and pension funds ($1.5 billion). In addition, he is responsible for the City’s debt portfolio of $970 million. During his tenure at the City, Kent has overseen the issuance of $228 million in bonds. Prior to Tallahassee, Kent served as the Budget Officer for the City of Jacksonville, Florida, preparing and monitoring its $1.7 billion budget. Before Jacksonville, he served as Treasurer for the City of Orlando, overseeing the $400 million operating portfolio and $400 million debt portfolio. Prior to Orlando, Kent served as the Finance Director for three communities: the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the Village of Northbrook, Illinois and the Village of Lake Zurich, Illinois.

Kent has been active in the Florida Government Finance Officers Association, serving on its Board of Directors, currently in the office of Secretary-Treasurer.

Kent earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics-finance from Millikin University and a Master’s of Public Administration degree from Syracuse University. He became a Certified Government Finance Officer in November 1996.

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